First Leap Program - Bridgeway Capital

First Leap is an entrepreneurial readiness program for startup and emerging creative businesses coordinated by Chatham University’s Center for Women’s Entrepreneurship (CWE) and Bridgeway Capital’s Creative Business Accelerator (CBA).

Whether you identify as an artist, maker, designer, or craftsperson, creative entrepreneurs often possess sophisticated skills when it comes to making. But the business skills needed to turn a passion into a livelihood often remain underdeveloped. First Leap will provide participants the foundations to become business owners ready to pursue growth investments and realize financial resilience.

Through an application process, the Creative Business Accelerator (CBA) and Chatham’s Center for Women’s Entrepreneurship (CWE) will select 12 emerging creative entrepreneurs and guide them through an intensive, yet supportive, 7-week program. Participants will leave with increased confidence and an actionable business plan outlined in a class presentation and the Live Plan online tool. They will also be eligible to apply for an emerging grant program.

Applications Are Now Closed

Applications closed on Friday, February 18th, 2022, at Midnight.

First Leap guidance will be delivered by experts in business fundamentals as well as experienced creative business owners. Participating entrepreneurs will hone the skills needed to build sustainable and impactful creative businesses, culminating in an actionable business plan presentation. First Leap participants will experience below.

Learn from experienced creative business owners who work hard and smart to realize creative fulfillment, financial resilience, and social impact
Hear from experts on topics such as contract considerations, business finances, product photography, and marketing success
Develop actionable business plan presentations that incorporate the considerations outlined during the course, including brand assets, target audience decisions, and other building blocks

Eligibility

Identifies as an artist, maker, designer, craftsperson, and/or small-batch manufacturer. Visit PG&H to see the types of creative businesses that may be a good fit.
Aspires to become a full or part-time creative business owner
Located in western Pennsylvania
Participating or willing to participate in CBA
Willing to complete pre-and post-program surveys

Priority

Minority, women, and/or veteran-owned creative businesses and/or entrepreneurs
Creative businesses and entrepreneurs living or operating in low to moderate-income areas
Creative entrepreneurs who aspire to operate a full-time business

Short and Long Term Goals

Phase One: Build the Plan

Seven weeks of intensive sessions to create guiding documentation that establishes strong foundations

Learn from an experienced creative business owner and a team of business management experts
Outline, understand and answer the fundamental questions shaping your creative business
Define the operational and financial goals to move toward in Phase Two with ongoing CBA support

Phase Two: Start the Plan

Six months of steady action to access capital, space, markets, peers, workforce, and guidance for growth

Partner with CBA team members and creative business coaches to make meaningful progress
Pursue the space, capital, and workforce needs to scale, sustain, and have a social impact in your community
Tackle challenges and breakdown barriers holding your creative business back from success

2022 First Leap Participants

Lauren Bailey

Crony Press

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Isaac Beachy

Isaac’s Glass Co.

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Sophia Fang

Sophia Fang Art

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Nathan Gregg

Design Maker 21

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Rebecca Hawkett

Winter Pickle Press

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Tressa Jones

Berlin Way Studios

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Ignacio Lopez

Lopez & Sons PGH

TBD

Marce Nixon-Washington

TBD

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V Ondra

TBD

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Gabriela Ortiz

Gabriela Ortiz Art and Design, LLC

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Seiko Sisco

Waku Waku Baby

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Tarah & Tayler Wright

T.W.O. Branch Media

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In March 2021, First Leap worked with twelve creative businesses to develop the confidence and capacity for business growth.

Learn more about their processes and products. CHECK OUT THE COHORT

Program Facilitators

Katie Johnson

Associate Director of the Creative Business Accelerator

Before the CBA, Katie was Director of Braddock Tiles, a non-profit business that produces small batch architectural tiles with youth to teach job readiness skills. Before her role at Braddock Tiles, she worked in development for the YWCA of Western North Carolina as a Donor Stewardship Manager, where she worked closely with senior staff to help develop lasting community relationships. With her extensive experience in the arts and non-profit sector, Katie brings a unique set of skills to provide artists, designers, and craftspeople with better access to technical assistance, peer network interactions, grant capital, and opportunities to build their workforce through job creation.

Debbie Magyar

CEO of Virtual Business Design at Launch and Balance Consulting

Debbie is a business strategist assisting small businesses with strategic business planning and digital marketing solutions at any stage of the business life cycle. As an entrepreneur of 20 years, she understands the challenges of working in and on a business. Debbie is the CEO of Launch and Balance Consulting LLC, a nationally certified women-owned business, by WBENC, and brings her expertise in small business advising, real estate development, finance, digital marketing, SBIR/STTR programs, and operations to support small business advancement in the region. Debbie received her BA from the University of Kentucky and her MBA from Mount Vernon Nazarene University. She is a certified commercialization specialist and certified in Google Digital Marketing.

Session Dates

Monday Evenings

From 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM

March 14th – April 25th

Session Topics

Session 1: The Company Overview

Unpacking your goals for launching/growing a creative business
Developing a business concept around your creative output
Designing your unique value proposition, mission, and vision
Developing a business plan outline for your business concept

Session 2: Defining Your Products & Services

Evaluating the deliverables (products, services, and pricing)
Understanding creative output and your target market
Promotion and distribution/economies of scale
Conducting a competitive and SWOT analysis

Session 3: Breaking Down the Market

Evaluating and sizing your market and sales potential
Developing short & long-term marketing strategies
Auditing your online presence and brand awareness
Balancing distribution channels, e-commerce, and storefronts

Session 4: Understanding the Business

Creating a sustainable action plan and sales strategy
Managing workflow processes and mindset
Defining and delegating business operations
Key partners, advisors, and technology for creative businesses

Session 5: Designing a Financial Forecast

Assessing your financial needs
Understanding budgeting & forecasting
Cash flow management
Introducing to financial statements and financial management

Session 6: Creating a Business Plan Summary & Pitch Deck

Techniques to deliver a business plan overview
Tools and templates to build content and collateral for a creative business
Design and presentation tips for pitching
Downloading and working with your new business plan

Session 7: Pitch Presentation
First Leap participants present their business plans to each other using pitch decks created over the previous six weeks.

The First Leap represents a new collaboration between two of the most effective organizations in the creative economy. The Center for Women’s Entrepreneurship (CWE) at Chatham University creates economic opportunities for women by providing high-quality entrepreneurial counseling, education, and training for women entrepreneurs. The Creative Business Accelerator program (CBA) at Bridgeway Capital, a nonprofit social impact investor, empowers regional artists makers, designers, and craftspeople to grow their businesses in ways that support equitable economic development. Have questions? Contact us to start a conversation.